3,306 research outputs found
Tetrisation of triangular meshes and its application in shape blending
The As-Rigid-As-Possible (ARAP) shape deformation framework is a versatile
technique for morphing, surface modelling, and mesh editing. We discuss an
improvement of the ARAP framework in a few aspects: 1. Given a triangular mesh
in 3D space, we introduce a method to associate a tetrahedral structure, which
encodes the geometry of the original mesh. 2. We use a Lie algebra based method
to interpolate local transformation, which provides better handling of rotation
with large angle. 3. We propose a new error function to compile local
transformations into a global piecewise linear map, which is rotation invariant
and easy to minimise. We implemented a shape blender based on our algorithm and
its MIT licensed source code is available online
Bacterial response to the soil environment
June 1969.Bibliography: page 22.Supported by the Office of Water Resources Research, Department of the Interior
A New Single End Wideband Impedance Based Fault Location Scheme for Distribution Systems
This paper proposes an improved impedance based fault location scheme based on system analysis at non-fundamental frequencies. The fault is treated as a voltage source that injects high frequency components into the system and the analysis is carried out using these injected components. The proposed method only requires local measurements at the substation and therefore is classified as a single end method. The new contribution is that the proposed method uses the distributed parameter line model to account for inductive and capacitive effects of the line. It has been evaluated on the IEEE 34-bus feeder which is based on an actual distribution system which has the typical features such as non-homogeneous feeder sections, asymmetrical line configurations, unbalanced loads and single and three-phase laterals. The fault point, fault resistance and fault inception angle have been varied to check their influence on the accuracy of the method. The simulation results demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method where for most cases, the error in fault location is less than 50 m
Vaccinia virus immune evasion: mechanisms, virulence and immunogenicity
Virus infection of mammalian cells is sensed by pattern recognition receptors and leads to an innate immune response that restricts virus replication and induces adaptive immunity. In response, viruses have evolved many countermeasures that enable them to replicate and be transmitted to new hosts, despite the host innate immune response. Poxviruses, such as vaccinia virus (VACV), have large DNA genomes and encode many proteins that are dedicated to host immune evasion. Some of these proteins are secreted from the infected cell, where they bind and neutralize complement factors, interferons, cytokines and chemokines. Other VACV proteins function inside cells to inhibit apoptosis or signalling pathways that lead to the production of interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In this review, these VACV immunomodulatory proteins are described and the potential to create more immunogenic VACV strains by manipulation of the gene encoding these proteins is discussed
Characterization of disturbance sources for LISA: torsion pendulum results
A torsion pendulum allows ground-based investigation of the purity of
free-fall for the LISA test masses inside their capacitive position sensor.
This paper presents recent improvements in our torsion pendulum facility that
have both increased the pendulum sensitivity and allowed detailed
characterization of several important sources of acceleration noise for the
LISA test masses. We discuss here an improved upper limit on random force noise
originating in the sensor. Additionally, we present new measurement techniques
and preliminary results for characterizing the forces caused by the sensor's
residual electrostatic fields, dielectric losses, residual spring-like
coupling, and temperature gradients.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication Classical and Quantum
Gravit
Measuring random force noise for LISA aboard the LISA Pathfinder mission
The LTP (LISA Testflight Package), to be flown aboard the ESA / NASA LISA
Pathfinder mission, aims to demonstrate drag-free control for LISA test masses
with acceleration noise below 30 fm/s^2/Hz^1/2 from 1-30 mHz. This paper
describes the LTP measurement of random, position independent forces acting on
the test masses. In addition to putting an overall upper limit for all source
of random force noise, LTP will measure the conversion of several key
disturbances into acceleration noise and thus allow a more detailed
characterization of the drag-free performance to be expected for LISA.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures. To be published in Classical and Quantum Gravity
with the proceedings of the 2003 Amaldi Meetin
Light adaptation mechanisms in the eye of the fiddler crab <i>Afruca tangeri</i>
A great diversity of adaptations is found among animals with compound eyes and even closely related taxa can show variation in their lightâadaptation strategies. A prime example of a visual system evolved to function in specific light environments is the fiddler crab, used widely as a model to research aspects of crustacean vision and neural pathways. However, questions remain regarding how their eyes respond to the changes in brightness spanning many orders of magnitude, associated with their habitat and ecology. The fiddler crab Afruca tangeri forages at low tide on tropical and semiâtropical mudflats, under bright sunlight and on moonless nights, suggesting that their eyes undergo effective light adaptation. Using synchrotron Xâray tomography, light and transmission electron microscopy and in vivo ophthalmoscopy, we describe the ultrastructural changes in the eye between day and night. Dark adaptation at dusk triggered extensive widening of the rhabdoms and crystalline cone tips. This doubled the ommatidial acceptance angles and increased microvillar surface area for light capture in the rhabdom, theoretically boosting optical sensitivity 7.4 times. During daytime, only partial darkâadaptation was achieved and rhabdoms remained narrow, indicating strong circadian control on the process. Bright light did not evoke changes in screening pigment distributions, suggesting a structural inability to adapt rapidly to the light level fluctuations frequently experienced when entering their burrow to escape predators. This should enable fiddler crabs to shelter for several minutes without undergoing significant darkâadaptation, their vision remaining effectively adapted for predator detection when surfacing again in bright light
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Nova Outburst Modeling and Its Application to the Recurrent Nova Phenomenon
The thermonuclear runaway (TNR) theory for the cause of the common novae is reviewed. Numerical simulations of this theory were performed using an implicit hydrodynamic Lagrangian computer code. Relevant physical phenomena are explained with the simpler envelope-in-place calculations. Next the models that include accretion are discussed. The calculations agree very well with observations of common novae. The observational differences between common novae and recurrent novae are examined. We propose input parameters to the TNR model which can give the outburst characteristics of RS Ophiuchi and discuss the implications. This review is concluded with a brief discussion of two current topics in novae research: shear mixing on the white dwarf and Neon novae. 36 refs., 4 figs
Intergenerational justice of what: welfare, resources or capabilities?
An important aspect of intergenerational justice concerns the specification of a 'currency of advantage' that can be used to evaluate distributive outcomes across time. Environmental theorists have introduced several innovative currencies of justice in recent years, such as ecological space and critical natural capital. However they have often downplayed the application of established currencies (such as welfare, resources or capabilities) to issues of futurity. After exploring the merits of a number of rival currencies, it is argued that the currency of 'capabilities to function' provides a promising basis for a theory of justice that takes seriously the rights and duties of intergenerational justice
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